Doing Business in Seattle

Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Support

Community Lenders

Seattle has several community lenders that offer small business loans with greater flexibility than provided under conventional bank financing.

Business Impact Northwest (BINW)BINW provides entrepreneurs access to capital and business assistance. As a Preferred Lender for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), BINW can work with businesses towards achieving their lending goals from $2,500 to $250,000. BINW also provides free one-on-one business coaching as well as various workshops, courses, and seminars. BINW focuses on start-up and established businesses with an emphasis on women, minority and veteran-owned businesses. Contact 206-324-4330.

Craft3Craft3 is a non-profit community development financial institution that provides loans to individuals, organizations, and businesses that promote the Craft3 triple bottom line mission and commitment to economic, ecological, and family resilience. The organization offers an array of capital products, including small business start-up, working capital, acquisition and expansion loans, commercial real estate and tenant improvement loans, loans to non-profits providing essential services, land conservation, and energy efficiency loans. They provide a wide variety of term loans ranging in size from $50,000 to $750,000. Contact 888-231-2170.

Mercy Corps NorthwestMercy Corps Northwest is the U.S. economic development office of Mercy Corps, an international relief and development agency. Mercy Corps Northwest is an SBA Intermediary Microlender. They provide financing to small business owners who may not qualify for traditional loans. Loans range from $500 to $20,000 for startups, and up to $50,000 for existing businesses. Contact 206-547-5212.

Rainier Valley Community Development Fund (RVDCF)The RVCDF provides loans products designed to support local residents, businesses and developers expand and invest in the Rainier Valley. Loans are limited to businesses and properties located within their service area in South East Seattle. Loans range from $50,000 - $2,000,000 and have payment terms and interest rates that are very flexible. Contact 206-722-5280.

The Alliance of Angels is a regionally-focused group of individual investors and representatives of investment corporations that acts as a "matchmaker" for young technology companies and interested investors. Call 206-389-7258 or visit allianceofangels.com.

Licensing, Permits, and Taxes

Everyone doing business in the City of Seattle must obtain and annually renew a business license. If you're doing business at several locations in the City, you'll need a separate license for each venue.

King County does not require a general business license. However, if a business is located in unincorporated King County (e.g. White Center) and engages in regulated activity, a King County business license is required.

First, you'll want to find out relevant policies and codes related to environmental protection, development, housing and community standards. Get information about permits from SDCI or call 206-684-8850.

Anyone doing business within the Seattle city limits whose business generates income above a certain level will have to pay a city business tax. The Guide to Seattle's Business License & Taxes provides answers to many questions. However, to find out about your specific circumstances, consult the Seattle Municipal Code, your tax advisor or both. Pay close attention to these sections of the Seattle Municipal Code:

5.40 - Admission Taxes

5.45 - Business License taxes

5.52 - Gambling Taxes

5.60 - Sales and Use Taxes

Washington State does not have a corporate tax; however, there is a state Business & Occupation Tax. In addition, new and existing manufacturers, research and development firms and certain high technology companies in Washington can benefit from several tax incentives. Learn more about state taxes and tax incentive programs on the Dept. of Revenue website or call 1-800-647-7706.

For questions about the City's WMBE program, please call the contract compliance manager at 206-684-4525. For questions about specific contracting opportunities, please call the City department's WMBE experts directly at:

Office of Arts and Culture206-233-7016

Department of Education and Early Learning206-233-2603

Seattle Information Technology Department206-684-0539

Department of Neighborhoods206-684-0466

Dept of Construction and Inspections206-386-4035

Finance and Administrative Services206-684-4525

Human Services Department206-684-4167

Municipal Court206-684-8274

Office of Economic Development206-684-8894

Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs206-727-8515

Seattle Parks and Recreation206-615-0374

Seattle Police Department206-733-9315

Seattle City Light206-684-3641

Seattle Department of Transportation 206-684-7949

Seattle Center206-684-7212

Seattle Public Utilities206-733-9155

Technical Assistance

Economic Development Council of Seattle & King County provides free customized assistance to businesses expanding or relocating into King County. It also offers demographic and economic information, permit troubleshooting, financing information, help with site selection, workforce training referrals and details on local taxes and incentives. Phone: 206-389-8650.

Choose Washington provides information about business development, business assistance and international trade. The ChooseWashington team works with businesses seeking to grow and expand.

The Puget Sound Regional Council is a regional data center that provides a variety of economic, demographic, geographic and transportation data to its member cities, counties, businesses and other interested parties. Phone: 206-464-7090.

Business Impact NW, a nonprofit economic development organization, provides individualized business counseling and financial assistance to many businesses that might otherwise have difficulty obtaining such resources. Phone: 206-324-4330.

Greater Seattle SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small businesses by providing no-fee mentoring and business counseling and low-cost workshops. Phone: 206-553-7320.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers small business loans. Its Seattle District Office houses a Business Enterprise Center (BEC) with an extensive resource library and the Seattle Chapter of SCORE. The BEC offers a one-stop location where current and future small business owners can receive assistance and advice. Phone: 206-553-7310.

University of Washington Foster School of Business Consulting and Business Development Center assists small businesses and nonprofit organizations in underserved communities to grow, create and retain jobs and contribute to the region's economy. Phone: 206-543-9327.

There are a number of product development outfits that help Washington companies overcome the technical challenges of product development. Here are a few examples:

Life Science Washington (LSW) is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(6) trade association serving the life sciences industry in the state of Washington. LSW supports and grows Washington state life sciences through advocacy, collaboration and investment. As the center of influence for Washington state life sciences, LSW advocates for positive public policy and private investment, bringing together research institutions, investors and entrepreneurs to grow the economic sector, and create healthier communities. Visit their website.

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) facilitates job placement and training programs that equip adults with the skills and resources they need to attain living wage jobs. The WDC also offers education, training, employment and support services for youth. Phone: 206-448-0474.

"Foreign" non-Citizens with Temporary Work Visas: The following links/resources address legal definitions and issues relating to the hiring of "foreign" non-citizen workers who are living temporarily in the United States under one of the temporary visa categories that permit and authorize employment.

City employees do not ask about immigration status. Passed in 2003, Seattle Ordinance 121063 instructs all City employees to refrain from inquiring about the immigration status of any person, except police officers where they have a reasonable suspicion of a felony criminal law violation or have knowledge that a person has been previously deported. The full ordinance is here: Seattle Ordinance 121063.

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights offers free training to businesses and the general public on anti-discrimination laws. To schedule training or for more information, contact SOCR at 206-684-4500.

Environmental Programs

King County offers a Brownfields Program that provides technical and financial assistance to help small businesses and property owners assess contamination and develop cleanup plans that enable contaminated property to be redeveloped and become productive. In addition, you can find pollution prevention resources such as free second containment by visiting EnviroStars.org, putting your address in the map, and viewing a list of rebates/resources. Phone: 206-477-5268.

The Green Purchasing Program implements the City's commitment to promoting environmental stewardship when buying goods, materials, services, and capital improvements. The City will often seek, specify or favorably score products that are recycled, certified, or remanufactured or that provide innovative and environmentally-preferable solutions.

Utilities, Conservation and Infrastructure

Seattle Public Utilities collects garbage and bills customers on a combined utilities bill. Private recycling companies provide commercial recycling services to most Seattle businesses. For referrals to private providers and help with setting up commercial recycling services, contact the Resource Venture at 206-343-8505 or visit their website.

Small businesses that generate 96 gallons of garbage or less each week (approximately equivalent to three standard 32-gallon garbage cans) may qualify for free recycling through Seattle Public Utilities. For more information about Small Business Recycling, call 206-684-7665 or visit SPU's Commercial Recycling webpage.

Seattle City Light provides electricity to Seattle businesses through energy efficiency programs and services that have been nationally and internationally recognized for innovation and excellence. The utility offers financial incentives and technical assistance to help businesses reduce electricity use and costs. Find more information on the Business Conservation Services section of their website, or call 206-684-3254.

As a special feature, Seattle City Light offers Energy Smart Services, a one-stop service to major commercial, industrial, government and wholesale customers dealing with complex or unique issues. Email an Energy Advisor or call 206-684-3800 for more information.

Large commercial and industrial customers are eligible to purchase natural gas from third-party suppliers rather than bundled service from PSE. Learn more about PSE's programs for businesses. For general information, please call 888-225-5773.